Road To Blue Ox

This is the last episode before the Blue Ox Music Festival gates open on Thursday June 22nd! As usual, we’ve treated this as a festival guide and include some helpful advice prior to arriving. Also, Justin meets up with Jimbo from the Potluck String Band. They chat about how Potluck navigated the bluegrass festival circuit as attendees to form what became their ensemble, leading them to build a home at Blue Ox as the stewards of the campground picking circle. Thanks for listening and see you very soon!

Featured Music:

“Stay All Night” - Pert Near Sandstone

“Happy Hollow” - Pert Near Sandstone

“Washington’s March” - Pert Near Sandstone

“Late Night Pick” - The Potluck String band

“Annie Oakley” - The Potluck String band

More Information:

Potluckstringband.com

BlueOxMusicFestival.com

PertNearSandstone.com

Know Before You Go:

https://www.blueoxmusicfestival.com/2023/06/arrival-information-2023?

Cash-Or-Trade Ticket Exchange:

Bonnie, Joy and Eve from Big Richard called us from a campground in California while on the tour that leads them to the Blue Ox Festival mainstage. We talk with them about how the band was formed, their quick rise in the bluegrass scene, and the irony of their name. It was great to get to know them prior to their performance in a couple weeks! Nate and Justin also give some important tips and reminders to consider before heading out to the festival. Thanks for listening!

Featured Music:

“Stay All Night” - Pert Near Sandstone

“Side Canyon (Live)” - Big Richard

“Down in the Willow Garden (Live)” - Big Richard

“Walls of Time” - Big Richard

More Information:

BigRichardBand.com

BlueOxMusicFestival.com

PertNearSandstone.com

Cash-Or-Trade Ticket Exchange:

Mike Gordon talks to Pert Near Sandstone’s Justin and Nate about the inspiration and process of recording his new album, “Flying Games,” and the band he’s bringing to the Blue Ox Mainstage. We cover a lot of ground with him that includes musical brain states, harnessing the muse, and the Integratron. We also listen to a couple of his new songs and share some pre-festival announcements. Thanks for listening!

Featured Music:

“Stay All Night”  -  Pert Near Sandstone

“Tilting” -  Mike Gordon

“Undone” - Mike Gordon

More Information:

Welcome back as we kick off a new season of the ‘Road To Blue Ox’ podcast! Thanks to The Last Revel for a great interview. We talk about their history and what led them to releasing “Live At The Blue Ox Music Festival.”  Also in this episode, Justin and Nate discuss this year’s lineup along with other festival features and announcements. Thanks for tuning in!

Featured Music:

“Stay All Night”  -  Pert Near Sandstone

“Blind In The Fray” -  The Last Revel

“Engine Trouble” - The Last Revel

More Information:

This is the last episode before the festival opens its gates! In this episode we interviewed Ben Majeska of Armchair Boogie. If you haven’t seen Armchair play at the festival or in your town, take the opportunity. Certainly it seems appropriate that they have the word boogie in their name. We also listen to some music from The Last Revel, gush over Del McCoury and discuss some of the features you can expect at Blue Ox Music Festival ‘22. See you soon!

Featured Music:

“Stay All Night”  -  Pert Near Sandstone

“All Aboard” -  Del McCoury Band

“Riding Horizons” -  The Last Revel

“That Lovin’” -  Armchair Boogie

“The Garden” -  Armchair Boogie

More Information:

BlueOxMusicFestival.com

ArmchairBoogieMusic.com

In this episode Justin and Nate have a great chat with Andrew Altman of Railroad Earth and listen to a couple of their newly released songs. With only two months until festival gates open this June even the squirrels seem to be excited! We also feature music from Humbird’s latest release and Cedric Burnside’s recent Grammy Award winning album.

Featured Music:

“Stay All Night”  -  Pert Near Sandstone

“Pink Moon For John Prine” -  Humbird

“Keep On Pushing” -  Cedric Burnside

“Come and Go Moon” -  Railroad Earth

“It’s So Good” -  Railroad Earth

More Information:

BlueOxMusicFestival.com

https://Railroad.Earth/

We are back with another podcast season leading up to the Blue Ox Music Festival on June 23-25, 2022! Justin was able to catch the “Master of the Telecaster” for a great interview before his performance in Minneapolis. Nate and Justin discuss this year’s line up and listen to a song from Riddy Arman. Thanks for listening!

Featured Music:

“Stay All Night”  -  Pert Near Sandstone

“Old Maid’s Draw” -  Riddy Arman

“Peace of Mind” -  Pert Near Sandstone

“Justice” -  Daniel Donato

“Why You Been Gone So Long” -  Daniel Donato

More Information:

Blueoxmusicfestival.com

Welcome back! In this episode we had a great conversation with Lissie, singer/songwriter and veteran of the indie music scene who joined us from her farm in northeastern Iowa. We talked about her midwestern roots, existing as social media guinea pigs, enjoying winter, and popcorn. We also play some music from other artists that are joining us at the festival this August 19-21. Make some popcorn, sit back, and thanks for listening. 

Featured Music on this episode:

Lissie: “Oh Mississippi”, “When I’m Alone”, “Best Days.”

Katey Bellville: “Where The Soul of Man Never Dies.”

Julian Davis and the Situation: "Somewhere Lonely."

John Stickley Trio: "Future Ghost."

Pert Near Sandstone:  “Stay All Night”, “Little Birdie.”

We are interested to know what you would like to hear on future episodes and any helpful feedback.  Send a message to: RoadToBlueOx@gmail.com.

Written by: Nate Sipe & Justin Bruhn.  Produced by: Pert Near Sandstone and The Blue Ox Music Festival.  Recorded and edited by: Nate Sipe.

Starting 2021 by looking to August, Justin and Nate talk about the lineup for this year’s festival and then discuss their favorite albums from 2020. A few new additions to the festival are covered and then we have a great chat with local Minneapolis band, Good Morning Bedlam. We talked with them about their development into playing folk music, what they’ve been doing during this past year, and closely explored the beautiful album artwork for ‘Like Kings.’ Their spirit for performance and songwriting is refreshing and we are eager to see them live this summer. Also, we cannot wait to be back to the Whispering Pines with all of you!

Featured Music:

Molly Tuttle - “Something On Your Mind”

Short Round Stringband - “Free Little Birds”

Good Morning Bedlam - “Enough”, “The Haunting”

Pert Near Sandstone - “Stay All Night”, “Summer Skies”

We are interested to know what you would like to hear on future episodes and any helpful feedback.  Send a message to: RoadToBlueOx@gmail.com.

Written by: Justin Bruhn & Nate Sipe.  Produced by: Nate Sipe, Justin Bruhn, and Pert Near Sandstone.  Recorded and edited by: Nate Sipe.

Nate and Justin are thrilled to bring you another episode this season with a virtual Blue Ox Music Festival on the near horizon! It was a salve for the spirit to chat with Adam Greuel of Horseshoes & Hand Grenades who also provides a couple of their unreleased songs for us. We hope this will find you well as we virtually stretch out in the grass of the Whispering Pines Campground. Watch the event live on Aug 28 & 29, 2020 or archived thereafter on YouTube and Facebook. 

Featured Music:

Horseshoes & Hand Grenades - “Cheyenne”, “The Devil’s Trash”. 

Armchair Boogie - “All My Friends”.

Chicken Wire Empire - “Joe Eddy (Live)”.

Pert Near Sandstone “Stay All Night”, "Last of Callahan", “Ruben’s Train”.

We are interested to know what you would like to hear on future episodes and any helpful feedback.  Send a message to: RoadToBlueOx@gmail.com.

Written by: Nate Sipe & Justin Bruhn.  Produced by: Nate Sipe, Justin Bruhn, and Pert Near Sandstone.  Recorded and edited by: Nate Sipe.

We are back with some current information preceding the festival.  Nate took a Mexican vacation which prompted a discussion of marine biology. Justin ventured into his own uncharted territory while interviewing his new favorite musician, Lillie Mae, who will be performing at Blue Ox this year. 

Featured Music:

Charley Crockett “In The Night”

Lillie Mae “A Golden Year”

Pert Near Sandstone “Stay All Night”, “Fishing Reel”

We are interested to know what you would like to hear on future episodes and any helpful feedback.  Send a message to: RoadToBlueOx@gmail.com.

Written by: Nate Sipe & Justin Bruhn.  Produced by: Nate Sipe, Justin Bruhn, and Pert Near Sandstone.  Recorded and edited by: Nate Sipe.

Welcome back to the Road To Blue Ox Podcast!  We are well on our way heading toward the 6th annual Blue Ox Music Festival this June 11-13, 2020. Nate and Justin are back to tell you what’s new and highlight some of the artists joining us this year. After getting to jam with Jerry Douglas recently, we caught up with him and had a great chat about chickens mostly, but also Japan and a bit about music.

Featured Music on this Episode:

Arkansauce : “Time, Tears and Money”.

Legendary Shack Shakers: “After You’ve Gone”.

Jerry Douglas Band: “On A Monday”.

Pert Near Sandstone: “Stay All Night”, “Needle & Thread”.

We are interested to know what you would like to hear on future episodes and any helpful feedback.  Send a message to: RoadToBlueOx@gmail.com.

Written by: Nate Sipe & Justin Bruhn.  Produced by: Nate Sipe, Justin Bruhn, and Pert Near Sandstone.  Recorded and edited by: Nate Sipe.

The final episode of Road To Blue Ox before the gates open! 

We sat down with Them Coulee Boys' brothers Soren and Jens Staff to talk about their musical evolution. They also give us a hint at what it's like being based in Eau Claire, which has become an artistic hub of the region, aside from being the home of Blue Ox.

The Festival season is here! Nate and Justin discuss what to expect as you arrive and what features and amenities to keep in mind throughout the weekend.  We Introduce the instrument workshop instructors and sample music from other artists who will be performing this year.  Excitement is in the air and we can't wait to join you at the Whispering Pines Campground for the 5th annual Blue Ox Music Festival!

Featured Music on This episode: 

Infamous Stringdusters - “Sun Rise”.

The Woods - “White Lines and Neon Signs”.

Barbaro - “Cold Stack”.

Dead South - “Delirium,” “Boots”.

Pokey LaFarge - “Devil Ain’t Lazy”.

Larry Keel - “Love”

Them Coulee Boys - “5’6 Monument”.

Pert Near Sandstone - Stay All Night”, “Elzic’s Farewell”.

We are interested to know what you would like to hear on future episodes and any helpful feedback.  Send a message to: RoadToBlueOx@gmail.com.   

Written by: Nate Sipe & Justin Bruhn.  Produced by: Nate Sipe, Justin Bruhn, and Pert Near Sandstone.  Recorded and edited by: Nate Sipe.  

Sarah Shook calls in from her home in Chapel Hill, NC to talk with us about touring life, being a mother and a band leader, and embracing the success of her music which she calls traditional country with a punk rock element. It was a fun conversation where she praises Milwaukee as her favorite stop on tour! We are really looking forward to seeing her perform at the festival, and dancing along.

Nate and Justin discuss other new features of the festival and play music from the bluegrass legends joining us this year, including Peter Rowan and Jerry Douglas.

Featured Music on this Episode:

Sarah Shook - "Good As Gold", "What It Takes".

Earls of Leicester w/ Jerry Douglas - "I'll Go Stepping Too".

Peter Rowan - "Can't You Hear Me Calling".

Punch Brothers - “Three Dots and a Dash”.

Pert Near Sandstone - "Stay All Night", “Old Joe Clark”, “Maggie Dear”.

We are interested to know what you would like to hear on future episodes and any helpful feedback.  Send a message to: RoadToBlueOx@gmail.com.   

Written by: Nate Sipe & Justin Bruhn.  Produced by: Nate Sipe, Justin Bruhn, and Pert Near Sandstone.  Recorded and edited by: Nate Sipe.